Distance||Eyeless Jack

Three

The monster, as society called him, crept through the woods, leaving a disastrous trail of hopelessness and hate behind him. Anyone, even mortals could sense it. Maybe that was why this forest was considered haunted. Because there was always hopelessness and hate.

It burned like fire. Burned his clothing, his flesh. His mind became nothing more than a tool for his vengeance.

Leaves crunched under Jack's shoes as he walked through the shadowy forest. It was almost the right time. He just needed to wait another few minutes and the gateway would open. But he would need to hurry. It only stayed open for a minute.

Sixty seconds. He thought he could leave it all behind. But he couldn't. Every night, the animalistic urge to feed on his fellow humans would consume his mind, and he would be unable to sleep.

He had assured himself that it would pass. But it never did. He dug his hand into his pocket, and pulled out the small silver bullet he always carried with him.

Every one had something that meant something to them. For Jack and the others, that item allowed them to pass through the gates.

Then he heard it. The sound of a metal gate opening. He squeezed the silver bullet, and looking ahead of him. The air itself appeared to be distorting.

He held his breath. Was he really prepared to go back to that life? Back to them? It's not like he had anywhere else to go.

He stepped into the distortion, and it was as though his body was being torn apart. But he withheld his screams of pain. If he didn't, he would die instantly.

Then, it was all over. He was standing in the woods again. But it was darker and more morbid. From where he stood, he could see the black shingled roof of his destination. Home. To his family.

The walk there was painful, because every step brought on memories of people he thought he'd never miss.

But, nothing was more painful than standing on the porch, staring at the tall black door that would lead him into the building.

With a shaky hand, he rang the doorbell. But after a few minutes, nobody came to the door. Were they watching him, waiting for him to leave again? Did they not want to see him anymore? Did hey not miss him as he missed them?

The thoughts swimming around in Jack's mind became to much, and he fell to his knees, holding his head and struggling to not cry out in pain.

"Jack?" Jack looked up, and saw the door was open. A blank, white face was peeking out of it, tilted to the side slightly.

"Slen- I mean boss?" The blank faced creature nodded. "Yes it's me. What are you doing here Jack? I thought you never wanted to come back."

Jack shook his head. "I didn't mean it. I just can't.." But Jack didn't finish. He hadn't been sleeping well lately, and trekking through the woods and enduring the pain the gateway brought on had weakened him.

He slumped forward, hardly able to move. He sucked in a deep breath, before passing out.